Antifreeze air strainer



Dec. 20, 1938. E, wrr 2,140,626

ANTIFREEZE AIR STRAINER Filed Dec. 18, 1936 5 22 2| 20 as 32 3 2? 25 23 A 3O ,m s!

INVENTOR ELLIS E. HEWIT BY%W ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 20, 1938 AN'I'IFREEZE AIR STRAINER m, E. Hewitt, Edgewood, Pa., assignor to Westinghouse Air Brake Company, Wlimerding, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application December 18, 1936, Serial No. 116,493

2 Claims.

This invention relates to compressed air systems, and more particularly to a combination anti-freeze and air strainer device adapted to be employed in such a system.

In order to prevent the undesired freezing of moisture contained in the air-supplied to an air pressure system, such as an air brake system, it has heretofore been proposed to introduce an anti-freeze medium, such as alcohol, into the air inthe system. It is desirable that the anti-freeze medium or alcohol be introduced into the air at the intake of the compresor supplying air under pressure to the system, so as to prevent freezing in all parts of the air pressure system, including cooling pipes and storage reservoirs.

One object of my invention is to provide improved means for introducing an anti-freeze medium such as alcohol into an air pressure system for preventing freezing of moisture in the air therein.

Another object of my invention is to provide an air strainer of the type adapted for application to the suction inlet of an air compressor, and including means for introducing an anti-freeze medium into the air compressed by the compressor. A further object of my invention is to provide an eiflcient anti-freeze device of simple and inexpensive construction adapted to be .removably mounted within an air strainer.

I In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional view of an air strainer and antifreeze device constructed according to my invention; and Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the 85 line 22 of Fig. 1.

As shown in the drawing, the anti-freeze air strainer comprises a vertically disposed cylindrical casing I having an inverted annular flange 2 on the lowermost portion thereof, and provided 4 with an outwardly turned flange portion 3 on the upper end of the casing. A plate 4 having a plurality of apertures 5 therein and provided with an annular flange 6, is inserted within the casing I, the flange 6 being adapted to fit within the recess formed by the inverted flange 2 of said casing. Suitable filter material such as curled hair I is packed within the casing I above the plate I. 7

According to my invention, an anti-freeze "evaporator 8 is mounted within the casing I, and serves to hold the fllter material I in place. The evaporator pan 8, which is adapted to contain a suitable anti-freeze fluid such as alcohol, has an annular wall II thatis adapted to engage the casing I and surrounds a bottom portion having formed therein a plurality of apertures II.

The

evaporator pan 8 is provided with a plurality of vertically arranged tubes I2, the lower end of each tube being fitted within one of the apertures II and secured to the bottom of the evaporator pan by any suitable means, adapted to form a leakproof joint, such as by soldering.

In order to permit the evaporator pan 8 to be filled with the alcohol or other duit or pipe fitting I3, the lower end anti-freeze medium, there is provided a right angular conof which is fitted through a suitable aperture in the casing I and the wall III of the pan, and has screw threaded engagement with a member I4,

which surrounds said aperture in the evaporator pan and is secured thereto by brazing or any other desired means.

For locking the pipe fitting I3 in the desired position there is provided a lock nut I5 having screw threaded engagement with said pipe fitting outwardly of the casing I. A packing gasket I t is preferably interposed between the lock nut IS and the casing I for insuring a tight joint. For closing the outer end of the pipe fitting ll, there is provided a removable plug I! having screw threaded engagement therein.

Suitable absorbent material I9 ispacked around the tubes I2 within the evaporator pan 8 as shown in the drawing which material is adapted to be saturated with the anti-freeze medium. If desired, the absorbent material I! may consist of curled hair similar to that provided at .i in the casing I,

As shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the evaporator 8 is so positioned within the casing I that the upper edge of the wall III thereof is disposed somewhat below the annular flange 3 ing. A plate 2| having apertures of said cas- 22 formed therein and provided with an annular flange 23 is inserted in the casing I above the evaporator pan 8, said plate resting in supporting engagement on the upper edge of the wall III of the evaporator pan.

Means is provided for supporting the casing I of the strainer, including a clamping ring 25 which is adapted to be slipped over the casing I from the lower end thereof into the position flange 2! of the perforated plate 2|.

Lugsllare tures 22 in the plate 2| to the mixing chamber.

holes formed in said lugs.

provided on the flange 21 of the bracket casting and are adapted to be aligned with similar lugs 3| formed on the clamping ring 25 for permitting insertion of clamping bolts 32 through suitable A packing gasket 33 may be interposed between the flange 21 on the bracket casting and the flange 3 on the casing l for providing a tight joint. The bracket casting 26 is secured to a pipe 35, which communicates with a mixing chamber 36 formed within the casting above the perforated plate 2|, and may be connected to the suction inlet of an air compressor, not shown.

The anti-freeze fluid supplied to the evaporator pan 8 by way of the conduit I3 is carried by capillary attraction to the upper surface of the absorbent material l9 and is thus exposed to the air drawn'upwardly through the tubes I! by the suction created in the usual manner by operation of the compressor, so that the fluid evaporates from the material and is carried along with the current of air. In passing through the aper- 36, the air and anti-freeze vapor are rendered slightly turbulent, thereby ensuring the thorough mixing of said air and vapor.

It will be apparent that the construction of the combined air strainer and anti-freeze device described herein is such as to permit the parts thereof to be readily taken apart for cleaning and repair, and that the elements comprising the anti-freeze portion will in no way obstruct the proper functioning of the air strainer portion. It will also be evident that the evaporator pan 8 is designed to permit installation in an existing air strainer if desired.

While one illustrative embodiment of the invention has been described in detail, it is not my intention to limit its scope to that embodiment or otherwise than by the terms of the appended claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A device for conditioning air to be compressed i'or use in an air pressure system, comprising in combination, a casing having an outlet opening and a downwardly racing inlet opening, air filtering material contained in said casing adjacent said inlet opening, a receptacle containing a volatile anti-freeze medium and fltted within said casing above the filtering material and adapted to hold said flitering material in place, said receptacle having a plurality of closely spaced tubular conduits projecting upwardly from the bottom' thereof, and means including a mixing chamber for creating turbulence in the air passing through said conduits and interposed between said receptacle and said outlet opening. whereby air flowing through said casing is adapted first to flow through said filtering material and then into contact with said anti-ireeze medium.

2. A device for conditioning air to be compressed ifor use in an air pressure system, comprising in combination, a casing having an outlet opening and a downwardly facing inlet opening, air filtering material contained in said casing adjacent said inlet opening, a receptacle containing a volatile anti-freeze medium and fitted within said casing above the filtering material, said receptacle having a plurality oi. closely spaced tubular conduits projecting upwardly from the bottom thereof, and means including a mixing chamber for creating turbulence in the air passing through said conduits and interposed between said receptacle and saidoutlet opening, whereby air flowing through said casingis adapted first to flow through said filtering material and then into contact with said anti-freeze 

